UAE organises global counter-piracy conference

Government and industry leaders representing over 50 countries today met in Dubai to seek meaningful solutions to the vexed problem of piracy.

The first high-level public-private initiative, the counter piracy conference sought to address the issue of widespread threats of piracy and collaborative means to eradicate it.

Co-convened by the UAE's ministry of foreign affairs and global marine terminal operator DP World, the two-day conference brings together officials and industry leaders from more than 50 countries for high-level deliberations, a DP World release said today.

The summit with the theme `Global Challenge, Regional Responses: Forging A Common Approach to Maritime Piracy', the summit will be attended by more than 30 foreign ministers, including from the GCC countries, senior representatives from a further 25 countries, the United Nations, the International Maritime Organisation, scores of industry leaders and international experts on maritime security and community development issues.

The conference sought to combine public and private initiatives to counter the devastating effects of piracy on the captives and their families and initiate efforts to merge the efforts of both sectors in areas of community development, security, and information sharing.

Panel discussions were also held to tackle root causes of piracy, relevant international law issues, and opportunities of furthering civilian-military cooperation to ward off attacks.